Highlights from 2024… mostly just big gratitude
WOW. 2024 was… a wild ride. Personally and professionally, so much has changed, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities that have, and will come. And so much of this year was made that much better because of the people who were there with me, from the casual daily interactions, to my clients and friends, to my deepest, and most personal relationships. Everything felt better because I got to do it in the company of amazing humans.
I’m a big believer in things “happening for a reason”. And despite my secular stance in life, I do really believe in fate, the Universe having its way, and (I know this is woo-woo but I believe in it to my core), manifestation.
2024 started for me on a high note: I had the privilege of a 2-month stay-over in Mexico City, which was an awe-inspiring, joyful, and personal experience that it turns out I really needed for a fresh perspective. You may or may not know this about me, but in 2023, I set a goal to live “nomadically” for a period in the coming year. While it didn’t happen until 2024, I had NO CLUE how I was going to make it happen. And then, the universe did what she does, and sent me the perfect cat-sitting gig with a friend in her cute Mexico City apartment for the gloomiest months of the year (which are absolute perfection in MX). I did develop a lovely foodie itinerary in Mexico City that I hope I’ll get to share with you soon. If this is a destination you’d like to visit, you can check out the details (and the waitlist!) here.
Just a few months later, we took our first-ever group tour in Portugal, launching what felt like an amazing women’s adventure camp, featuring dinners out with the gals, hiking, swimming, seafood, wine, and so many giggles. Every time I’ve launched a tour, it’s given me the same butterflies, and every group brings their own magic. This group came away as new friends, and with many, many unforgettable stories. If you’re interested in joining our one-and-only all women tour in Portugal in 2025, you can find more information here. From the epic private catamaran, to the regenerative winery tour, and meals with local families, this one is such a TREAT! So if you’ve got the bug for Portugal, or are just ready to dig in and make some new friends this year, I highly recommend you SEND IT on this one.
In December, I co-hosted the first Secret Supper Club, an international dinner series, in partnership with Maylin Chavez of Nacar Oysters. Maylin guest hosted our Portugal tour and shared all her oyster and bubbles love with us, made us some epic charcuterie boards, and made for a great travel companion. If you’d like to get to know Chef Maylin, (or just spend more time with her because she’s so lovely) there will be more opportunities in the future! Stay tuned for more Secret Supper Club dinners, and tours ft. Maylin and her love of food!
On a personal note, this year sent big gifts. Sam and I got our first puppy, a chocolate-lab-monster-angel named Miso who has brought us so much joy and movement (the task is to just keep up with her everyyyy day, you know what I mean?!). We also decided to move to Astoria (the Oregon coast), and bought our dream house by what can only be called serendipity. I also bought my first brand new electric car, which felt like a huge life level-up. We took many local trips to celebrate the bounty here in the PNW, including:
A road trip to Lake Tahoe,
Witnessing the Northern Lights and a pod of orcas on none other than Orcas Island,
Taking rainy drives to oyster farms,
Crabbing and camping at the coast,
Taught the dog how to swim and now she will never skip a puddle
